The exhibition will feature original manuscripts of the "Mazinger Z" manga series--the forerunner of the "piloted robot" genre--along with other classics.

The exhibition will run until Feb. 19, 2013, at the museum, which honors the achievements of manga giant Osamu Tezuka in the Takarazuka's Mukogawa district, in Hyogo Prefecture.

Go Nagai, 67, the creator of "Mazinger Z," set his mind to becoming a manga artist when he read Tezuka's "Lost World" as a child. Nagai made his professional debut in 1967 and created many masterpieces, including "Mazinger Z" and "Devil Man."

The museum decided to hold the exhibition in 2012 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of those two titles and the 60th anniversary of the serialization of "Astro Boy," one of the earliest robot manga series in Japan.

Thirteen manuscripts from "Astro Boy," 26 from "Mazinger Z" and 20 from the "Devil Man" manga series will be on display at the venue.

The exhibition will also highlight Tezuka's "Dororo" and Nagai's "Dororon Enmakun" series. Manga manuscripts of Nagai's latest work, "Dororo to Enmakun," a crossover of the two monster-themed series, will go on display for the occasion, prior to the series' serialization.

Nagai also created an exclusive illustration featuring Astro Boy and Mazinger Z robots for the exhibition poster.

"We'd like visitors to come and discover the appeal and the common characteristics of these two artists," a museum official said.

Admission is 700 yen ($9) for adults, 300 yen for junior and senior high school students, and 100 yen for elementary school students. The museum is closed on Wednesdays.

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